Microcomputer having a nonvolatile memory which stores a plurality of BIOSes

a microcomputer and biosequence technology, applied in the field of microcomputers, can solve problems such as security and functions that cannot be used simultaneously, and achieve the effects of enhancing security, reducing the board area of notebook pcs, and improving usability

Inactive Publication Date: 2008-11-04
RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORP +1
View PDF7 Cites 6 Cited by
  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009]Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a microcomputer that enables to reduce the board area of a notebook PC and enhance the security and to improve the usability thereof.
[0016](1) Board area can be reduced, and security can be enhanced.
[0017](2) Usability of a microcomputer in a keyboard / power management controller can be improved.

Problems solved by technology

Further, since the system BIOS is built in the chip of a flash memory, it has a problem of security.
Moreover, since a single terminal is provided with several functions in order to reduce the number of terminals, there are many pin multiplexes, and there is a problem that some of functions cannot be used simultaneously.

Method used

the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
View more

Image

Smart Image Click on the blue labels to locate them in the text.
Viewing Examples
Smart Image
  • Microcomputer having a nonvolatile memory which stores a plurality of BIOSes
  • Microcomputer having a nonvolatile memory which stores a plurality of BIOSes
  • Microcomputer having a nonvolatile memory which stores a plurality of BIOSes

Examples

Experimental program
Comparison scheme
Effect test

Embodiment Construction

[0029]Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that components having the same function are denoted by the same reference symbols throughout the drawings for describing the embodiment, and the repetitive description thereof will be omitted.

[0030]First, an example of the entire configuration of a microcomputer according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing a configuration of a microcomputer.

[0031]The microcomputer according to this embodiment is, for example, a microcomputer in a keyboard / power management controller and comprises modules including a central processing unit CPU, a clock oscillator CPG, a flash memory ROM, a random access memory RAM, a direct memory access controller DMAC, a bus controller BSC, an LPC interface LPC, an interrupt controller INT, an 8-bit PWM timer PWM, a 14-bit PWM timer PWM...

the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
Login to view more

PUM

No PUM Login to view more

Abstract

A microcomputer capable of reducing a board area, enhancing the security, and improving the usability is provided. A microcomputer to be used in a notebook PC is disclosed, in which programs of a keyboard / power management BIOS and a system BIOS are stored in a built-in flash memory ROM. In order to set read (R) / write (W) protect to the BIOSes stored in the flash memory ROM, a read / write protect setting register is provided, and at initial setting after the release of reset, flags of R / W permission, R permission / W prohibition, W permission / R prohibition, and R / W prohibition are set to this register by a central processing unit CPU. By doing so, it becomes possible to achieve protection such as the prevention of error writing of the BIOS and the like between a host machine and the flash memory ROM via a LPC bus.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]The present application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. JP 2003-310126 filed on Sep. 2, 2003, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference into this application.TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to a microcomputer, more specifically, it relates to a technique advantageous when applied to a microcomputer in a keyboard / power management controller of a notebook personal computer (notebook PC) and the likes.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]According to the examinations by the inventors of the present invention, techniques as follows are known in the field of microcomputers in notebook PCs.[0004]For example, in a notebook PC according to the prior art, a microcomputer in a keyboard / power management controller is provided with a keyboard BIOS that controls key scan and input devices such as a keyboard and a mouse and a power management BIOS that controls a battery and a fan, and ...

Claims

the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
Login to view more

Application Information

Patent Timeline
no application Login to view more
Patent Type & Authority Patents(United States)
IPC IPC(8): G06F9/22G06F11/00G06F12/14G06F15/177G06F15/78
CPCG06F1/32G06F1/24
Inventor OSHIBA, MASASHISATO, YOSHIAKIYAMAKAWA, KENTAROYAMAKI, YOKOKISHI, HIROSHI
Owner RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORP
Who we serve
  • R&D Engineer
  • R&D Manager
  • IP Professional
Why Eureka
  • Industry Leading Data Capabilities
  • Powerful AI technology
  • Patent DNA Extraction
Social media
Try Eureka
PatSnap group products

Browse by: Latest US Patents, China's latest patents, Technical Efficacy Thesaurus, Application Domain, Technology Topic.

© 2024 PatSnap. All rights reserved.Legal|Privacy policy|Modern Slavery Act Transparency Statement|Sitemap